Nearly 100 weary travelers, hungry and tired from being stranded for hours on snowbound Interstate 17, found a lot of compassion from the tiny community of Munds Park and a 180-seat church there.

The travelers, many of them families visiting the state, had no place to sleep Wednesday night. Drivers were fleeing I-17, which was at a standstill amid a fierce winter storm. The nearest hotel was full.

Pastor Rex Sample of Munds Park Community Church figured he and the church could help out. The church had just stocked up on emergency food supplies a week ago.

Sample got the word out to the small community that he and the church were there to help.

Before he knew it, dozens of people were arriving for warmth and shelter.

"We are very grateful. They were amazingly hospitable," said Enrique Vargas, who spent the night at the church along with his wife, daughters and brothers. They were from California and had spent the day at the Grand Canyon before getting stuck on southbound I-17.

Pine Woody's Pizza & Grill in Munds Park sent a dozen pizzas to the church to help feed the impromptu visitors, said David Hatch, the restaurant's owner.

Hatch said he helped Sample call people around the community to help set up the church as a shelter.

The travelers slept in the foyer, by the altar and in between aisles.

The Grand Canyon chapter to the American Red Cross sent cotton blankets, Tracey Kiest, a spokeswoman, said.

By Thursday morning, visiting children were playing Scrabble and Monopoly, Sample said.

"Everyone seems to be having a good time," he said.

Jeff Toppel of Scottsdale and his two toddler-age sons were heading up to Williams for the Grand Canyon Railway's Polar Express train ride on Wednesday.

They were stuck for about five hours until finally being able to exit in Munds Park. Toppel and his boys had resorted to sleeping overnight in their car at a gas station, before hearing about the church across the highway taking people in.

"It's definitely been a blessing," Toppel said.

As for why the community went to such lengths, Hatch had an easy answer.